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Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur

The history of agricultural education in Kerala can be traced back to the year 1896 when a scheme was evolved in the erstwhile Travancore State to train a few young men in scientific agriculture at the Demonstration Farm, Karamana, Thiruvananthapuram, presently, the Cropping Systems Research Centre under Kerala Agricultural University. Agriculture was introduced as an optional subject in the middle school classes in the State in 1922 when an Agricultural Middle School was started at Aluva, Ernakulam District. The popularity and usefulness of this school led to the starting of similar institutions at Kottarakkara and Konni in 1928 and 1931 respectively. Agriculture was later introduced as an optional subject for Intermediate Course in 1953. In 1955, the erstwhile Government of Travancore-Cochin started the Agricultural College and Research Institute at Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram and the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at Mannuthy, Thrissur for imparting higher education in agricultural and veterinary sciences, respectively. These institutions were brought under the direct administrative control of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Animal Husbandry, respectively. With the formation of Kerala State in 1956, these two colleges were affiliated to the University of Kerala. The post-graduate programmes leading to M.Sc. (Ag), M.V.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees were started in 1961, 1962 and 1965 respectively. On the recommendation of the Second National Education Commission (1964-66) headed by Dr. D.S. Kothari, the then Chairman of the University Grants Commission, one Agricultural University in each State was established. The State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) were established in India as an integral part of the National Agricultural Research System to give the much needed impetus to Agriculture Education and Research in the Country. As a result the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) was established on 24th February 1971 by virtue of the Act 33 of 1971 and started functioning on 1st February 1972. The Kerala Agricultural University is the 15th in the series of the SAUs. In accordance with the provisions of KAU Act of 1971, the Agricultural College and Research Institute at Vellayani, and the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, were brought under the Kerala Agricultural University. In addition, twenty one agricultural and animal husbandry research stations were also transferred to the KAU for taking up research and extension programmes on various crops, animals, birds, etc. During 2011, Kerala Agricultural University was trifurcated into Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU), Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) and Kerala Agricultural University (KAU). Now the University has seven colleges (four Agriculture, one Agricultural Engineering, one Forestry, one Co-operation Banking & Management), six RARSs, seven KVKs, 15 Research Stations and 16 Research and Extension Units under the faculties of Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering and Forestry. In addition, one Academy on Climate Change Adaptation and one Institute of Agricultural Technology offering M.Sc. (Integrated) Climate Change Adaptation and Diploma in Agricultural Sciences respectively are also functioning in Kerala Agricultural University.

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1990 - 199912000 - 20042
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Author: Parvathy, S × Start date: 1990 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Participatory action research for renumerative rice production
    (Department of Agricultural extension, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2004) Parvathy, S; KAU; Ahamed, P
    As with the Complex, Diverse and Risk- prone (CDR) rice systems of many Asian countries, the Kerala state of peninsular India suffers from the fast depleting paddies and the ' high cost- low remuneration syndrome'. Crucial rice technologies have been blamed by stakeholders for the insensitivity to micro farming situations A multidisciplinary stakeholder Participatory Action Research (PAR) of emancipatory type and collaborative mode was done for three years (2001-2004) on identification and prioritization of constraints to profitable rice production to explore the available cost-reducing and productivity increasing technological options. The project focussed on screening of technological modules through farmer participatory field assessment and arrived at locally adaptable and remunerative technology packages. The project also developed and standardised an extrapolatable stakeholder participatory assessment model and protocol. The programme had a blend of extension approaches, research designs and tools like "ex-post facto", benchmark appraisal through Participatory Learning and Action (PLA), exploratory, diagnostic, evaluative, field experiments and analytical studies. The PAR was done in two rice ecosystems (irrigated and rainfe:l) of the midland, laterite belt of Kerala state, India. Fourteen technology modules were fitted into the PAR, under .. , each of the three treatments, viz., farmers' practice, recommended packages of the formal research system and location specific I technology components" jointly decided by the research team extensionists and farmers. Each technology component was subjected to five types of analysis viz., agronomic, statistical, economic, farmers perceptions and reactions, post-trial follow up analysis of adoption in the succeeding cropping seasons. The participatory interventions significantly influenced the level of technical knowledge and extent of adoption of adaptable technology modules, typifying the cognitive impact of an emancipating action research. The short duration red rice varieties "Kanchana" (Ptb 50) and "Kairali" (Ptb 49) proved to be the best first crop and second crop varieties respectively, to replace the ruling cultivars. The technology modules recommended by the formal research system viz., seed treatment with fungicides for the first crop season and Pseudomonas fluorescence for the second crop season were adaptable technologies. The PAR came out with an efficient planting density and crop geometry package (line transplanting; 15 x 10 cm; 67 . , hills/m'; 2-3 seedlings/hill) to replace the conventional planting system. The existing formal recommendations including IPM and INM practices could enhance and combat weeds, pest and diseases thereby enhancing crop yield. Harvesting with self- propelled reaper and threshing with mechanised thresher were cost effective, drudgery alleviating and time saving. The net result of the action research was a set of adaptable technological package for remunerative rice production in the CDR rice production systems. Cognitive and behavioural impact on the participants; and the standard methodology and protocol for participatory technology validation for rice in particular, and for any farm enterprise in general, with extrapolative effect.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Determination of constants in uniform flow formula for small discharges in open channels
    (Department of Land and Water Resources and Conservation Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 1990) Parvathy, S; KAU; George, T P
    An attempt was made to find out the constants in the general uniform flow formula for small discharges less than 10 1/s in cement lined and earthen channels. These constants were compared with the constants in the well known and widely used uniform flow formulae such as Manning’s and Chezy’s equation and checked their validity for small channels. Experiments were conducted for different discharges varying from 1 to 9 1/s and for different slopes of 1/2000, 1/3000, 1/4000 and 1/5000 in cement lined and earthen channels. With the help of a computer, analysis was made to establish a relationship between velocity v, hydraulic radius R and slope S. The expirical equation obtained are In cement lined channel V = 9.199 R0.7591 S0.1103 i.e. V = 1/0.1087 R0.7591 S0.1103 In earthen channel V = 47.2286 R0.844 S0.307 i.e. V = 1/0.0212 R0.844 S0.307 From the comparison of actual velocity with velocity obtained by using Manning’s equation, it was found that Manning’s equation was not applicable to small channels having discharges less than 10 1/s. In both the channels, actual velocity was roughly two times greater than the Manning’s velocity. The average ratio of actual and computed velocity using the best fit equations and the coefficient of determinations in the two cases were near unity. Hence the best fit equations obtained in the study are recommended for the design of small channels. Manning fixed the value of exponent of S as 0.5 based on some theoretical assumptions. So it was decided to find the value of n and the exponent of R in both the channels by fixing the value of exponent of S as 0.5. The equations obtained are In cement lined channel V = 1/0.00428 R0.7827 S0.5 In earthen channel V = 1/0.00408 R0.8696 S0.5 These equations were good but their reliability were less than that of the previous equations.Since Manning’s equation is an university accepted form, comparison was made between the recommended n values and the n values obtained in the study by fixing the value of exponent of R and S as 0.67 and 0.5 respectively. The equations obtained are In cement lined channel V = 1/0.00609 R0.67 S0.5 In earthen channel V = 1/0.00778 R0.67 S0.5 Though the reliability of these equations were comparatively less than the earlier cases, it gave reasonably good results. So these equations are also recommended for the design of small channels with different n values for cement lined and earthen channels. Chezy’s constant C was determined from the best fit equations by fixing the value of exponent of R and S as 0.5. The equations obtained in two channels are In cement lined channel V = 94.91√RS In earthen channel V = 74.771√RS These C values obtained are recommended for the design of small channels in Chezy’s equation than the C values obtained from Manning’s and Kutter’s equations using Manning’s recommended n values. Soil in which earthen channel was constructed was classified based on texture. Since the soil was sandy loam, the best fit equation obtained in earthen channel is applicable only for sandy loam soil.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Participation of women in agricultural development programmes under people`s plan in Thiruvananthapuram district
    (Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2000) Parvathy, S; KAU; Sobhana, G
    The study entitled Participation of women in Agricultural Development Programmes under People's Plan in Thiruvananthapuram district was undertaken to study the extent of participation of women in planning implementation, monitoring and evaluation of Agriculture Development Programmes in People's Plan, perception of women about People's Plan campaign attitude of women towards People's Plan programme and and to identify the constraints as perceived by women and women office bearers while undertaking this programme. The study was conducted in eight grama panchayath of Thiruvananthapuram district selected randomly. A sample of two hundred respondents were selected using a mu l t i s t ag e random sampling. Data were collected through well structured and pretested interview schedule. Majority of rural women (64.37%) had medium extent of participation in planning while 67.57 per cent office bearers had high participation in planning. Great majority of rural women (98.7%) were low in their participation in implementing and majority (67.50%) of women office bearers were in high participation category. Around fifty two per cent of rural women having low level of participation in monitoring and evaluation while bearers extension orientation, achievement motivation, training and leadership propensity had positive significance with their perception. Annual income, economic motivation, innovation prone- ness. achievement motivation, training of rural women had positive and significant relationship with their attitude toward People's Plan. No variable was significantly correlated with attitude of office bearers about People's Plan. With respect to extent of participation of rural women revealed that economic motivation innovation proneness achievement motivation, training, level of aspiration, mass media participation leadership propensity and self confidence was significantly related to extension orientation, achievement motivation, training and leadership propensity had positively significant relationship with perception of women office bearers. Leadership propensity, annual income and self- confidence had positive and significant relationship with extent of participation of women office bearers. The stepwise regression analysis revealed that economic motivation, leadership propensity, training, extension orientation, mass media participation, annual income, level of aspiration, political orientation, age and self confidence contributed 36 per cent of variation in perception of women while in case of office bearers 63 per cent of variation in perception was contributed by variables like achievement motivation, extension orientation, leadership propensity and education. innovation proneness, Variables like economic motivation and selfconfidence contributed only 15 per cent variation in the attitude of women whereas occupation, economic motivation, innovation proneness, achievement motivation and leadership propensity contributed 16 per cent variation in the attitude of women office bearers. Twenty five percentage variation in extent of-participation of rural women in ADPs under pp was explained by economic motivation, achievement motivation, training, leadership propensity and selfconfidence and in case of women office bearers variables like marital status, innovation proneness, achievement motivation, training, level of aspiration, leadership propensity, and self confidence contributed 65 per cent variation in extent of participation. The important constraint perceived by rural women was political interference in the selection of beneficiaries under People's Plan Campaign and that of women office bearers was non involvement of all members in implementing the programme. Spearman's rank order correlation revealed that there was no agreement with rural women and women office bearers in the order of ranking.